Thoughts on the Tragedy in Connecticut

On Friday, most Americans were overwhelmed with grief and sorrow as the events in Connecticut began to unfold. How could there be such evil in this world? I know you have grieved with the families as we learn more of the horrific details of this very dark chapter in American history. Evil is alive and well in America. Where is God in the midst of this evil? If God were all powerful and all loving, why does He not intervene and stop this vile evil from occurring? How should a Christian respond? In dark times like this, these are all very justified questions. Job learned that God was big enough to be asked these tough, if not impossible, questions. But he also learned that God is big enough not to give answers but instead demand trust and faith. The following are a few anchor points for me in times of great tragedy and despair. They help me, not to get answers, but to have faith in God and to trust in Him fully and unconditionally. I pray they are a help for you too. God did not create evil. Chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis tell us that everything God created was good and very good. When God gave His created creatures free will, God allowed the possibility of evil. Man took what was good and very good and twisted it into evil. We live in a very fallen and incomprehensibly evil world. We live in a world where evil and depraved individuals choose to do very wicked, vile, and evil things. In the midst of evil, we can be certain of a couple of things: God is sovereign. God is over all and above all. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah was reminded that during a difficult time in his nation’s history, the real king was alive and well on the only authentic and true throne. As you wake up this morning, the events in Connecticut did not catch God off guard. He is still on His throne working all things according to His purposes. Therefore we can be certain of one singular truth: In the year the evil man killed 26 people in Connecticut, I saw the Lord seated on a throne high and exalted. God is able to take that which is meant for evil and turn it into good. In the midst of the many trials Joseph faced in his lifetime, he learned this very valuable lesson: "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20). In times of deep national or personal tragedy, we must continually believe God will bring about good in any and every situation. At this moment, I cannot think of any good that can come from the killing of so many innocent lives. But I do know God is in the midst of their pain and suffering and He will produce good. Evil will never thwart God’s ultimate purpose and plan. God will be finally and forever victorious over evil. The Day of the Lord is coming. God will personally intervene in history. He will vindicate His people. He will finally destroy, not only the power of sin, but the presence of sin. He will establish His Kingdom on the New Heavens and New Earth and He will reign for all eternity. When faced with such a terrible tragedy, we must look at the bigger picture. Peter reminds us that our suffering on this earth is for a “little while” (1 Peter 5:10). God will be victorious. In the span of the eternal, our pain and suffering is but a little while our joy will be everlasting. On the cross, God identified Himself with our suffering. God knows what it is to suffer. In your darkest moment and in your deepest pain you must remember God loves you and God cares. He has personally and eternally proven that to you on the cross. He suffered and died so we might live. He suffered and died so we might have hope in the midst of pain. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Peter tells us to “Cast our cares upon Him. He cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7). In the resurrection, God gains victory over our greatest enemy, death. Because Jesus lives, I too shall live. When faced with such tragedy we must remember our greatest hope is in the resurrection. We know “a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out — those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28-29). We anchor our hope to the promise of this ultimate victorious resurrection. For the Christian, death is our doorway from the land of the dying into the land of the living. The resurrection is our greatest hope as we face our ultimate enemy, death. Life is fleeting, fragile, and frail, therefore make the most of every day. 26 people woke up on Friday morning with no idea they would soon walk into eternity. It is true we never know when our time on this earth is done. We must love as if this is our last day. We must live as if we will hear our Savior’s voice of welcome at any time. We must live as if we have to give an account of our lives to the Judge on the last day. We must stop wasting our time on the petty and temporal and instead focus our attention on the eternal. We must love our families. Our greatest hope is Jesus Christ. We must therefore live every day as if Jesus really is the only answer to the despair of people. As a Christian, what should our response be? 1. Do not loose heart! Have faith in God. 2. Weep with those who weep – mourn with those who mourn. 3. Pray 4. Anchor yourself to the rock which is God and point others to their only hope, Jesus. 5. Live as if you will walk into eternity as any moment. 6. Above all, be agents of love not of speculation and hate. Finally, I do believe “Everything sad will come untrue.” In my readings this morning, I was reminded of a Lord of the Rings quote. Timothy Keller wrote: “In the last book of The Lord of the Rings, Sam Gamgee wakes up, thinking everything is lost and discovering instead that all his friends were around him, he cries out: ‘Gandalf! I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead! Is everything sad going to come untrue?’” The ultimate answer to this question is a resounding “YES!” The cross and resurrection assures us that one day everything sad will come untrue. The events of Friday are one page of one chapter in a story being told and ultimately controlled by God. He is the author of this story and already has the perfect ending in mind. Evil is alive in this world... for now. I grieve deeply for those most affected by this senseless tragedy. As long as there are evil men there will be evil acts. Today my heart is very sad and very heavy. But my hope is anchored in the truth of scripture. At the end of a day like Friday, I simply find myself echoing the great words of the Apostle John, “Come Lord Jesus come!” To God be the glory both now and forevermore.